Abstract
There are practically no low cost, environmentally friendly options in practice whether incineration, autoclaving, chemical
treatment or microwaving (World Health Organisation in Health-care waste management training at national level, [2006] for treatment of health-care waste. In Kenya, incineration is the most popular treatment option for hazardous health-care
waste from health-care facilities. It is the choice practiced at both Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi and Moi Teaching
and Referral Hospital, Eldoret. A study was done on the possible public health risks posed by incineration of the segregated
hazardous health-care waste in one of the incinerators in each of the two hospitals. Gaseous emissions were sampled and analyzed
for specific gases the equipment was designed and the incinerators Combustion efficiency (CE) established. Combustion temperatures
were also recorded. A flue gas analyzer (Model-Testos-350 XL) was used to sample flue gases in an incinerator under study
at Kenyatta National Hospital—Nairobi and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital—Eldoret to assess their incineration efficiency.
Flue emissions were sampled when the incinerators were fully operational. However the flue gases sampled in the study, by
use of the integrated pump were, oxygen, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitrous oxide, sulphur dioxide and Nox. The incinerator at KNH operated at a mean stack temperature of 746 °C and achieved a CE of 48.1 %. The incinerator at MTRH
operated at a mean stack temperature of 811 °C and attained a CE of 60.8 %. The two health-care waste incinerators achieved
CE below the specified minimum National limit of 99 %. At the detected stack temperatures, there was a possibility that other
than the emissions identified, it was possible that the two incinerators tested released dioxins, furans and antineoplastic
(cytotoxic drugs) fumes should the drugs be subjected to incineration in the two units.
treatment or microwaving (World Health Organisation in Health-care waste management training at national level, [2006] for treatment of health-care waste. In Kenya, incineration is the most popular treatment option for hazardous health-care
waste from health-care facilities. It is the choice practiced at both Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi and Moi Teaching
and Referral Hospital, Eldoret. A study was done on the possible public health risks posed by incineration of the segregated
hazardous health-care waste in one of the incinerators in each of the two hospitals. Gaseous emissions were sampled and analyzed
for specific gases the equipment was designed and the incinerators Combustion efficiency (CE) established. Combustion temperatures
were also recorded. A flue gas analyzer (Model-Testos-350 XL) was used to sample flue gases in an incinerator under study
at Kenyatta National Hospital—Nairobi and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital—Eldoret to assess their incineration efficiency.
Flue emissions were sampled when the incinerators were fully operational. However the flue gases sampled in the study, by
use of the integrated pump were, oxygen, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitrous oxide, sulphur dioxide and Nox. The incinerator at KNH operated at a mean stack temperature of 746 °C and achieved a CE of 48.1 %. The incinerator at MTRH
operated at a mean stack temperature of 811 °C and attained a CE of 60.8 %. The two health-care waste incinerators achieved
CE below the specified minimum National limit of 99 %. At the detected stack temperatures, there was a possibility that other
than the emissions identified, it was possible that the two incinerators tested released dioxins, furans and antineoplastic
(cytotoxic drugs) fumes should the drugs be subjected to incineration in the two units.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-4
- DOI 10.1007/s10900-012-9578-4
- Authors
- Nkonge A. Njagi, School of Public Health, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
- Mayabi A. Oloo, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O.B. 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
- J. Kithinji, University of Nairobi, P.O.B. 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
- Magambo J. Kithinji, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O.B. 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
- Journal Journal of Community Health
- Online ISSN 1573-3610
- Print ISSN 0094-5145